Continuing our round up of events in Smalltown and Dullbridge we move on to Saturday in Smalltown where a special ‘Jubilee Vintage Boat Display and Race’ will feature ships and boats through the reign of Queen Victoria II.
Organised by Smalltown Chamber of Trade (SCOT), this genuinely unique free event will feature fantastic classic boats moored up in Main Street and George Street.
At 2pm 94,000,000 gallons of water will be pumped into Main Street and the boat race will commence. Shops along the route will be issued with sandbags to prevent ingress by water and shoppers.
A spokesperson for SCOT said “This will be a first for Smalltown. We’ve had boat races in the town before, but never in the Town Centre – unless you count the Great Flood of 1981, but that wasn’t really a race, it was a rescue. This event promises to be incredible – think ‘Monaco Grand Prix’ combined with the ‘America’s Cup’ and you’ll get an idea of what is in store.
We have a great line up of boats taking part and even a ship or two. Come along, enjoy looking at the display and then wave off the competitors at the start of the race. Water wings are advisable.”
Lady Brassy of Easton-under-Water, unelected co-leader of the Smalltown Shops (SS) group, is said to be miffed by the idea, telling her fellow unelected co-leader, Mistress Bones “I’m upset that we didn’t think of this. We’ve only shut Main Street to make it difficult for shoppers to get to the shops. Not only have SCOT shut Main Street AND George Street, but they are going to make it impossible for anyone to go shopping. We can only dream of achieving that.
It’s not just the facr that SCOT are closing more roads than we are, I’ve long harboured secret dreams to create a second Easton-under-Water and Smalltown-under-Water has been my plan ever since I opened my shop here. They’ve stolen my idea! “
Former Mayor and now Rear Commodore of Smalltown Sailing Club, Mike Secretary, said “This is going to be an amazing spectacle, several of our Club members will be taking part, together with entries from the Smalltown Rowing Club.
I’m particularly looking forward to seaing how the Queen Mary fares against the QE2 and whether or not either ship makes it to the end of the course without running aground at FREE Rock Cake Island.”